S C H O L A S T I C    B O O K    F A I R

Many thanks to all of the volunteers, parents and students who made our Fall Scholastic Book Fair such a tremendous success! Not only do we have piles of great new books for the library, we also have money to spend on supplies and add new books to our collection. 

 R E M E M B R A N C E    D A Y

The Hallowe'en decorations are put away and the Library now features Remembrance Day books and memorabilia. 

 

The younger grades learned about the significance of the poppy.  In 1919, King George V of England created Remembrance Day to commemorate those who served and died during the Great War. The red poppy, inspired by Colonel John McCrae's iconic poem,"In Flanders Fields", became the symbol of  remembrance. Poppies bloomed across the war-torn battlefields of Europe and their crimson  petals represented the blood spilled during World War I.

 

Today, people also wear white poppies to promote peace and purple poppies to honour animals in the military.

 T H E Y    A L S O    S E R V E

This November, grades three to five have focused on the roles of animals during war. From elephants to mice, animals have served in the military throughout history.  Horses, dogs and pigeons played essential roles in the World Wars and animals continue to be employed in the modern military. 

 

D I D   Y O U    K N O W ?

 

One of the most famous WWI mascots was a Canadian black bear cub named Winnipeg who was secretly brought to England by Lieutenant Harry Colebourn.

“Winnie” acted as the Fort Garry Horse regimental mascot but was placed in the London Zoo for the duration of the war for her own safety. "Winnie" was visited regularly by an English boy named Christopher Robin. She became the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.